Introduction
Are you wondering how to make money online as a teenager? In this interview, we speak with Peter Szacillo, a 16-year-old entrepreneur from Poland who generated $7,000 in just a few months. By leveraging skills from Hustler’s University and combining web design with cold calling, Peter landed high-ticket clients and built a sustainable income. Read on to discover his exact strategy, how he managed school, and his advice for young entrepreneurs.
Founder Success Story QnA
Could you give an introduction about yourself?
Hello, I’m Peter. I’m 16 years old and I joined Hustler’s University about 130 days ago. I have recently started making significant progress and I’m currently living in Poland.
How did you get into Hustler’s University and find out about it?
I watched a lot of underrated interviews because I really think that long-term videos show the real side of a person, unlike short clips on TikTok. I was really amazed at how people can see the person differently. He always mentioned the university, and after watching for two or three months, I decided to buy it. I figured for $50, I could lose the money, but I didn’t really care because the potential upside was huge.
What campuses did you get into and which led to success?
Before joining, I was writing a lot of books and wanted to do something with writing. So, I joined the Copywriting campus. From there, I created an agency to create websites. That was basically how I started. I also dabbled in other campuses, but Copywriting was the initial entry point.
How did you learn the website creation part?
Yes, I had knowledge on this. I was creating websites from when I was 11 years old, so I really knew a lot about it. The university taught me that I have to give value to people, so I combined my existing web skills with the value proposition taught in the course.
What was your strategy for landing your first client?
I learned that I need to go to really small businesses and offer them value. Since I knew how to make websites, I decided to offer websites and social media creation. I went to a paint store where my best friend’s mom worked and offered to help. I gave them a free hand initially, and for the first month after closing hours, I was just taking photos and working on their online store. After a few months of grinding, I started creating websites for really big companies.
How did you transition from small clients to big clients?
It’s a bit of a messy story. I initially stopped doing the agency work to try Drop Shipping. For new students, don’t do that—focus on one campus. However, while building my Drop Shipping store, I created a really good website for myself. A guy saw it and reached out asking if I could create websites like that. He turned out to be a really big guy, a General Director for a huge company in Romania. That connection led to my big break.
How important is speed in acquiring clients?
Speed is everything. The university always says to focus on speed without cutting quality. When the big client reached out on a Saturday at 8 PM, I contacted my partner immediately. We didn’t sleep; we finished the website by 5 AM. We then recorded a video convincing them we were good people to collaborate with. All the things I learned from the Business Mastery and Copywriting campuses went into that pitch, and it worked.
What services are you providing for these big clients and how much are they paying?
For the first big company, I created a website for which they paid me 5,000 Polish Zloty (about $1,000 USD). After that, I started managing their social media for $500 a month. I later introduced an affiliate marketing product for them, which became the best seller. On the side, I collaborated with another company that paid me 22,000 Polish Zloty (about $5,000 USD) to create a music service similar to Spotify.
How did you acquire the client that paid you 22,000 Polish Zloty?
I wanted to get more clients but didn’t know how. I opened Google Maps and started looking for businesses. I called and called for five days. Finally, I met a guy who said, “Let’s do this.” For two weeks, I didn’t even know his name, but I took the risk. It paid off, and that service is now becoming really big in Poland.
How does your earnings compare to your family’s background?
I come from a mining family. My father was a miner for 25 years, working one of the hardest jobs in the world. Every month, he made about $1,000. Making $7,000 online means I’m making three times more than him without putting my life in danger. I’m incredibly grateful for the guidance that allowed me to channel hard work into something scalable.
What is your view on hard work versus guidance?
No matter how hard you work, it won’t matter if you don’t have the right guidance. You could be the hardest worker, but if you are just converting time for money in a non-scalable way, you won’t grow. My father worked hard, but he lacked the guidance to channel that energy elsewhere. You need the guidance to achieve a lot.
How did you meet your business partner?
He was a friend from school before I left. I knew he was hardworking and wanted to make money. I remembered the advice about needing brothers or people with you. I reached out, met up, and explained what I learned. He was amazed. I mentored him, and now he is also leaving school to focus on business. He is the kind of guy who works even while on vacation.
How much have you earned in total through Hustler’s University?
I have made around $7,000 related to this. Living in Poland, $1,000 is a lot of money. To me, $7,000 feels like $30,000 would to someone in America due to the cost of living. I’m living really well and plan to rent my own apartment soon.
How has your daily routine changed since joining?
Before, I wasn’t necessarily lazy, but I did dumb things like going to parties. Now, I’ve stopped that. I deleted social media apps. All I do is spend time with family, work on my business, and work out. I started boxing and kickboxing with an eight-time world champion coach. The community inside the app motivates me; if I feel lazy, I just check the app and see everyone else working.
What were your plans before joining versus now?
In 2023, I had the year free because I stopped going to school. I wanted to write books and do creative things that didn’t make money. After a year, I hadn’t made a single dollar, which pissed me off. Now, my main goal is to build a big legacy, give back to my community, and expand my hometown in Silesia to be worldwide known.
You mentioned finishing one year of school in two weeks. How did that work?
When I started high school, I saw it was wasting my time. I came up with a smart idea to change schools and start having online exams. I managed to finish a whole year’s worth of curriculum in two weeks. If anyone wants to do the same and stop wasting time in school, they can message me, and I can help them figure out how to minimize the time spent there.
What advice do you have for people unsure about joining due to the cost?
If you are arrogant or stupid enough not to see the value, I just say have fun staying poor. For $50, you get access to professors and a community that can help you. If you don’t want guidance or contact with successful people, then stay where you are. But if you want to achieve more, you need this environment.
Peter Szacillo Business Stats
Peter has achieved impressive financial results in a short period by leveraging high-ticket services and local currency arbitrage. His business operates primarily in Poland but serves international clients.
- Total Earnings: $7,000 (Approx. 28,000 PLN)
- Age: 16 Years Old
- Location: Poland
- Timeframe: 4 Months
- Business Model: Agency & Freelancing
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Biggest Single Payment | $5,000 |
| Monthly Retainer | $500+ |
| Startup Cost | $50 |
| Team Size | 2 Co-Founders |
Peter Szacillo Method
Peter’s success comes from combining technical skills with aggressive outreach and speed of delivery. He focuses on providing immediate value to secure trust.
- Value First Approach: Offered free work initially to build trust and a portfolio.
- Speed of Execution: Worked through the night to deliver projects immediately to impress clients.
- Cold Calling: Used Google Maps to find local businesses and pitched services via phone.
- Skill Stacking: Combined web design with copywriting and marketing to offer more services.
- Referral Network: Leveraged initial clients to find bigger corporate opportunities.
Peter Szacillo Tools
Peter utilizes a mix of development tools and communication platforms to manage his business efficiently and maintain contact with clients and partners.
- Web Development Tools: Custom coding and CMS for building client sites.
- Google Maps: Essential for finding leads and local businesses to pitch.
- Telegram: Used for private client communication and networking.
- The Real World App: Used for learning new skills and community motivation.
- Social Media: Managed client accounts for marketing growth.
Key Notes
There are several critical takeaways from Peter’s journey that any aspiring entrepreneur should note when starting their own business.
- Don’t Skip Campuses: Focus on one skill initially rather than jumping between Drop Shipping and Agency.
- Guidance is Crucial: Hard work alone is not enough; you need mentorship to scale effectively.
- Find the Right Partner: A hardworking partner is more valuable than a smart but lazy one.
- Speed Wins: Delivering faster than expected sets you apart from competitors.
- Geographic Arbitrage: Earning USD while living in a lower-cost country significantly increases purchasing power.
Get Started in Just 5 Steps
If you want to replicate Peter’s success and learn how to make money online as a teenager, follow these actionable steps to start your own agency.
- Learn a High-Value Skill: Master copywriting or web design through a course or self-study.
- Offer Value for Free: Find a local business and offer to improve their online presence at no cost to build a portfolio.
- Leverage Google Maps: Search for businesses in your niche and start cold calling to offer your services.
- Deliver with Speed: Over-deliver on your first project by completing it faster than promised.
- Ask for Referrals: Use your successful case studies to land bigger, higher-paying clients.
Conclusion
Peter Szacillo’s story demonstrates that age is not a barrier to financial success if you possess the right mindset and guidance. By combining technical skills with a relentless work ethic and strategic outreach, he was able to generate $7,000 in just four months. Whether you are looking to start a side hustle or a full-time business, Peter’s method of providing value first and executing with speed is a proven blueprint for success.